Device for preventing the formation of gullies



A-. v. LUTZ 1,764,047

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION OF GULLIES Jun 17, 1930.

Filed June 16, 1928 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITE SATES ALOIS VIKTOR LU'IZ, OF ZURICH, SWITZERLAND I DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION OF GULLIES- Application filed June 16, 1928, Serial No. 285',873, andin Germany March 7, 1927.

For the purpose of preventing dangerous increases in depth (gullies) underneath dams there are provided in addition to solid structures of various types also movable gully preventing boards. At the rear end these are hingedly connected to the solid dam body and rise at the front by reason of the floating action in view of the fact that they are formed of wood beams. By these means the stream of water flowing over the dam is diverted upwardly and the bottom of the stream, under the diverting board is less attacked.

The hinged connection of the board to the body of the dam or weir however forms a source of danger as the board, by reason of the continuous movement due to shock, is strained to such an extent that it is liable to break away and float away.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device for preventing gullies and which does not possess these defects. The rear end of the gully preventing board is loaded at its rear end by means of a body of which the weight is so dimensioned that it prevents the board from being driven upwardly and prevents it from floating.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a cross section of a dam or weir.

Figure 2 shows a corresponding plan.

Figure 2 shows a plan of a modified form 35 of construction and Figure 3 shows a section of Figure 2 According to Figure 1 the gully preventing board consists of wood beams a which at the rear end engage with a concrete beam 6 having iron reinforcements. Between the wood beams are left spaces through which a portion of the stones and earth passing over the weir passes and collects in the water, moved to a lesser extent, under the 45 board. The beams a are connected together by one or more transverse beams c.

The concrete beam may be constructed on the weir body cl above the water and subsequently sunk. As it is unnecessary to have water below the weir this prevention of the formation of gullies may be provided in existing gullies Without considerable expense so as to prevent the bottom of the'wate'r from being further lowered.

As will be seen in Figure2, which is aplan 5 5 of Figure 1, each second beam is engaged in the concrete whilst the intermediate beams are connected together and to the remaining beams by the transverse beams c. When the weir opening is of great width the board is divided into a number of sections so as to prevent the concrete beam from fracturing when irregularly supported on the ground.

' In order to enable the wood beams a to be readily exchanged and replaced when worn by the stones and earth the wood beams a are not directly secured in the concrete beam 1) but they are screwed to an iron frame which in turn is bolted to the concrete beam.

This arrangement is shown in Figure 2 In the concrete beam 6 are embedded iron beams f to which are secured cross beams g to which are screwed or bolted the wood beams on (Figure In Figures 2 and 3 is shown a concrete' beam 6 of circular cross section. This is supported at suitable intervals by means of concrete brackets h which are of such a shape as to prevent movement of the board.

This form of construction can be used with advantage when the protecting device is to be erected in dry soil when constructing the weir or after a gully has been formed and the water can be lowered.

I claim 1. A device for preventing the formation of gullies behind weirs consisting of a unitary structure comprising a heavy beam of reinforced concrete adapted to be sunk behind the weir, an iron frame secured to said beam, and a plurality of wood beams secured in spaced relation to said iron frame, said wood beams'extending at right angles to the reinforced concrete beam. I

2. A unitary structure for preventing the formation of gullies behind weirs, said structure comprising a beam of reinforced concrete adapted to be sunk behind the weir an iron frame secured to said beam, and a plurality of wood beams secured in spaced thereof.

relation to said iron frame, said Wood beams extending at right angles to the reinforced concrete beam, and a plurality of spaced brackets for supporting said concrete beam and preventing displacement thereof.

3. A self-contained structure for preventing the formation of gullies behind Weirs, said structure comprising a reinforced concrete beam, iron beams secured to said reinforced concrete beam and extending at right angles thereto, transverse iron beams secured to said first-mentioned iron beams, and a plurality of Wood beams secured to sai d transverse beams, said Wood beams extending at right angles to the concrete beam, and

' a plurality of concrete brackets arranged in spaced relation so as to support said concrete beam and to prevent the displacement ALOIS v KToa LUTZ. 

